Xinjiang Tours

8 Days Memories of Xinjiang Tour

Our 8 day Memories of Xinjiang Tour is designed for those who are entering from Kirgizstan to Kashgar at the Torgat border, then exits to Kirgizstan at the Irkashtam border. The short stay in Xinjiang focuses on Kashgar, Yarkand, Hotan and crossing the Taklamakan Desert.

Day 1: Arrival to Kashgar via Torgat pass then drive to Kashgar

Attractions:

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: Meet with the group at Torgat pass which is the border between China and Kyrgyzstan. It is 170km from Kashgar. Since Torgat Pass is not for third country citizens, we will need to arrange permit, and send it with our guide and driver to pick you up from country gate. Our guide and driver will be at the country gate around noon time. Once you arrive, they will pick you up and bring you to Kashgar.

Day 2: Day Tour to Karakul Lake

Activities: We will start our day tour to Karakul Lakeafter our breakfast at the hotel. We will drive southwest of Kashgar to karakul lake.

Karakul Lake is located at the foot of Muztag Ata which means “Father of Ice Mountain”, it is 7546m above sea level and located on the Karakorum Highway. Karakul Lake means black lake in both the Kirgiz and Uyghur languages. You can do some trekking around the lake either by walking or riding horse or camel. It is 3600ms above sea level. The nationalities living at the lake are Kirgiz people and they live both in Kirgiz Yurts and mud stone houses. We will have chance to visit the Kirgiz yurts during our time their if you wish to do so. Kirgiz people are nomads; they raise sheep, goats, donkeys, horses, camels, cows, and yaks. While you are there, you can go horse and camel riding around the lake. Return to Kashgar early in the afternoon.

Accommodation:

Day 3: Day Tour in Kashgar City

Activities: We start our Kashgar tour by visiting Tomb of Appak Hojawhich was the leader and master of white mountaineer Sufism in the Southern Xinjiang. Afterwards, we will visit Kashgar’s Sunday Market which isalso called The Grand Bazaar in Uyghur. It is the biggest market in Xinjiang. As early as two thousand years ago, it was the collecting and distributing center for traders. Various special local products, handicrafts, articles of daily use, fruits and vegetables as well as all kinds of domestic animals can be found here. Id Kah Mosque which is the biggest mosque in China, and was built in 1442. The Handicraft Street is located next to the Id Kah Mosque and provides a place for tourists to see traditional Uyghur craftsmen engaged in making different types of articles for special and daily use. Kashgar Old Town is located in center of the city. By walking through narrow streets and visiting the families there, you can learn about Uyghur culture and custom. Night will be spent in Kashgar.

Accommodation:

Day 4: Drive to Hotan from Kashgar

Attractions:

Transportation: Bus/Car

Yarkand Golden Graveyard

Activities: We set out from Kashgar early in the morning to Hotan. On the way to hotan, we will visit the Yingsar which is famous town for making Uyghur knives in Xinjiang. We will visit the knife workshop. Next stop will be Yarkand (Shache in Chinese), Yarkant is the biggest county of Kashgar. Yarkant was once the capital of a Kingdom and was an important station on the ancient Silk Road, with a history of over 2000 years. Aman Nisahan, the wife of the second king of the Yarkant kingdom and the compiler of the famous Uyghur 12 Music Mukams, is buried in a tomb in the Golden Grave Yard. Next to Golden Graveyard is the Yarkand Old town which is very authentic and traditional. We will be in Hotan late in the afternoon. Night will be spent in Hotan.

Accommodation:

Day 5: Day Tour in Hotan

Activities: We will start our tour by visiting the Atlas Silk Factory. Atlas is the Uyghur word for the soft and graceful silk and means “tie dyed silk fabric”. Visitors can see the whole process of handmade silk from boiling the silk worm cocoons till weaving the cloth on the looms. Hotan Carpet factory, it is located same direction with Silk Atlas Factory. It is located 5 kilometres from Hotan and still manufactures handmade carpets. Hotan Carpets were sought after in ancient times and antique carpets are collector items. Modern carpets are considerably cheaper and the factory can make custom carpets to order. On our way to returning to Hotan city, we will visit White Jade River which is the river where the famous Hotan White jade is found. Hotan Bazaar sprawling over a vast area rivaling all other bazaars in the region. On every Sunday, the whole city and countryside community converge on the bazaar to trade, shop and enjoy themselves conjuring up a fascinating Aladdin’s world. The Jade Factory carries on Hotan’s more than 3000 years old tradition of supplying jade to central China where Hotanese jade was used to make the Imperial seals of power. Night will be spent in Hotan.

Accommodation:

Day 6: Drive Cross the Taklimakan Desert from Hotan to Aksu

Attractions: Taklamakan Desert, Sand Dunes

Transportation: Bus/Car

Taklamakan Desert, Xinjiang

Activities:We start our tour after our breakfast at the hotel. We leave for Aksu early in the morning for to travel cross the Taklamakan dessert. The road from Hotan to Aksu is the second road which cross the Taklimakan Desert; it is officially opened to the public since late 2007. Taklimakan Dessert is the second largest shifting desert in the world; it covers an area of 337,600sqkm.?Taklimakan desert used to be called Death of the Sea before 1993; this is the year which the first Taklamakan Desert Highway from Niya to Korla or Kuqa was built. The word Taklimakan means actualiy Death of Sea in Uyghur language: once you come in you can never come out. Enjoy the fascinating scenery of the dessert and sand dunes. Arrive in Aksu early in the afternoon and wonder around in town. It is 450 km from Hotan to Aksu. Night will be spent in Aksu.

Accommodation:

Day 7: Aksu to Kashgar

Attractions: Sultan Sutuk Boghrahan’s Tomb

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: We start our journey early in the morning from Aksu to Kashgar. On the way, we will visit Sultan Sutuk Boghrahan’s Tomb, who is the first person to accept Islam among Uyghurs. We will be in Kashgar late in the afternoon. You will wonder around the Uyghur Night Market in front of Eid Kah Mosque in the evening. Night will be spent in Kashgar.

Accommodation:

Day 8: Kashgar to Erkashtan Pass of Kyrgyzstan

Attractions:

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: We start our journey after our breakfast at the hotel. We will try to cross the border before the lunch at the Chinese Customs House there. Once you successfully cross the customs house and immigration. It will be end of our service.

Note: You need to arrange Kirgistan side pick up or need to let us know early so that we will arrange it by our own.
Set out from Kashgar to Erkashtan border early in the morning. Help the group to pass the border. This is the end of our service.